Steve Wozniak: Edward Snowden is 'a hero to me'

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History will decide the man's reputation.

People call him a traitor, and indeed, he is.

However, do you owe loyalty to a nation that is doing something illegal?

Many forget that the "Founding Fathers" would have been remembered as traitors had they lost the revolution.

I agree with your general sentiment, but in this particular statement, I believe that a recent commentary by University of Detroit-Mercy Associate Professor of Law J. Richard Broughton ( http://www.tenthamendmentcenter.com/201 ... nstitution ) which, according to TenthAmendmentCenter.com "states that the key requisite for an act to be considered treasonous is the intent to betray. Not just an act that, as some claim, 'gives aid to an enemy'" might teach us about the word "treason." Intent is a difficult thing to prove. And, in this case, it should be difficult.

I don't agree that he is a traitor.

I don't believe that it is legal for officers of any branch of the United States Military or government to require US citizens to commit unconstitutional acts. Every oath in the armed forces begins with same pledge given by the President on inauguration:

This obligation cannot be countermanded by the unlawful command of a superior, or because it seems expedient, convenient or operationally useful.

Many of the data collection and mining practices revealed by Snowden were clear violations of the Constitution, and just because Democrats like Obama and Republicans liked Bush (though most now pretend they didn't) that doesn't make their support of unconstitutional action by our intelligence services legal, ethical or acceptable.

We only know how bad the violations were and are because of Snowden. I believe he did more to defend the Constitution of the United States than Barrack Obama, George W. Bush and all those in the CIA, NSA, FBI, DIA, and other agencies whose work was exposed by Snowden.

I agree with the Woz on this one.

Edited to add: I think many in the US have conflated Edward Snowden and Julian Assange and think Snowden is responsible for the much more damaging leaks released in bulk by Chelsea Manning (then Bradley Manning) through Assange's wikileaks site.

he should be considered a hero to everyone, the traitors are the ones who threatened to have him killed for exposing their crimes